Ben Brown produces game-changing third quarter to lift North Melbourne over GWS Giants

COLEMAN Medal leader Ben Brown has turned Blundstone Arena into his own personal playground as the hometown hero guided North Melbourne past GWS in Hobart.

Ben Brown juggles the mark against GWS in Hobart.

COLEMAN Medal leader Ben Brown has turned Blundstone Arena into his own personal playground as the hometown hero again starred for North Melbourne in Hobart.

Having been kept to just three disposals and no marks in the first half against GWS, the Tasmanian exploded with an astonishing five goals in the third term.

With tag team partner Jarrod Waite (four goals) booting three of his own in the first stanza as the Roos kicked with the wind, the hosts blanketed the Giants in the last to record a 17.10 (112) to 9.15 (69) victory which propelled them back into the top eight.

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Brown has now kicked 10 goals in North’s first two games in Hobart in 2018 and has moved to 31 for the season.

While the Roos leapfrogged Sydney and Melbourne with the result, the one-time premiership favourites GWS continue to slide in the wrong direction with a third straight defeat.

North jumped the visitors with a five goal to one first stanza, using the wind as Waite proved a handful up forward.

Ben Brown stretches for a mark against GWS.

Jarrad Waite kicked four goals in North Melbourne’s win. Picture: Sam Rosewarne

However the Giants responded with a six goal second quarter of their own, dominating the inside 50 count 21-9 to grab a five point advantage at the long break.

Brown needed just 40 seconds to get into the action on the resumption when he snapped a goal under pressure to put the Roos ahead again, opening the floodgates for a rampaging quarter which gave the Roos the ascendancy.

Ruckman Todd Goldstein began dominating at the stoppages, giving the Roos an 18-7 advantage in the clearances and a 45-29 edge in contested possessions and it was Brown who benefited from the superb supply.

Despite trailing by 33 points at the final change the Giants were not completely buried with the breeze at their backs, but Lachie Whitfield, Jeremy Cameron and Daniel Lloyd all missed opportunities to cut the deficit early before Trent Dumont delivered the knockout blow by jagging the first goal of the term against the tide.

Lachie Whitfield gets a handball away under pressure.

Rory Lobb battles Todd Goldstein.

Lachlan Keeffe responded for GWS but the visitors were unable to make any further headway and when Goldstein soared among a pack to pluck a mark in the goal square and convert at the 20 minute mark it was the icing on the cake of a dominant performance.

Jed Anderson was prolific early and finished with 26 disposals (17 contested), eight clearances and a goal, Shaun Higgins had a team 28 touches while rebounding defender Luke McDonald lifted in the third term and collected 25 disposals by the final siren.

Dylan Shiel led the Giants with 24 possessions and 12 tackles, Stephen Coniglio had 25 and Jacob Hopper finished with 24.

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Originally published as Ben Brown produces game-changing third quarter to lift North Melbourne over GWS Giants